Early Dragon Age: The Veilguard Concept Art Reveals a More Vengeful Solas

Concept sketches from former BioWare artist Nick Thornborrow offer a glimpse into the evolution of Solas's character in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. These sketches, initially created for a visual novel used to brainstorm story ideas, reveal a stark contrast between Solas's portrayal in the final game and his early conception.

Solas, initially introduced in Dragon Age: Inquisition as a helpful companion, later revealed his treacherous plan to destroy the Veil. This plan forms the central conflict of The Veilguard. However, Thornborrow's art depicts a far more overtly antagonistic Solas, showcasing a vengeful god persona.

While some scenes, such as Solas's attempt to shatter the Veil, remain largely consistent between concept and final product, others show significant differences. The final game portrays Solas primarily as an advisor, communicating with the protagonist through dreams. The concept art, however, frequently depicts him as a colossal, shadowy figure, suggesting a more direct and sinister involvement in the game's events. The ambiguity surrounding these changes leaves open the question of whether these scenes represent actual events or simply Rook's dreams.

The discrepancy between concept art and the final game isn't surprising, given the nearly 10-year gap between installments and the game's title change from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. Thornborrow's contribution, a visual novel exploring branching narrative paths, served as a crucial tool for conveying story ideas to the development team. The release of over 100 sketches provides fans with a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the game's development and the evolution of Solas's character. The stark differences highlight the significant narrative shifts that occurred during The Veilguard's production. The images, primarily black and white with colored accents highlighting key elements like the lyrium dagger, vividly illustrate this evolution.